Valve and hose reel combination for vacuum platen in photographic apparatus



Aug. 25, 1964 w. WANIELISTA 3,145,615

D HOSE EL MBINAT F VACUUM TEN IN TO PHIC A us Filed June 25, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 VALVE .INVEJNTOR. Wd/fer W001 e s/a flaa/A m W ATTORNEYS Aug. 25, 1964 W. WANIELISTA VALVE AND HOSE REEL COMBINATION FOR VACUUM PLATEN IN PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 23, 1961' Magma MZLL M A TTORNE Y5 Aug. 25, 1964 w. WANIELISTA 3,145,615

VALVE AND HOSE REEL COMBINATION FOR VACUUM PLATEN IN PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 25, 1961 INVENTOR. Waller Iran/'0 l/sfa ATTORNEYS United States Patent VALVE AND HOSE REEL COMEINATIGN FOR VACUUM PLATEN IN PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Walter Wanielista, Westchester, Ill., assignor to Robertson Photo-Mechanix, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed June 23, 1961, Ser. No. 119,236 9 Claims. (Cl. 88-24) This invention relates to apparatus for supplying a vacuum to a movable vacuum platen or the like for use with reproducing equipment or the like, and more particularly to a reel having a vacuum hose wound thereon and supplied with a vacuum for maintaining a vacuum condition in a vacuum platen or the like during movement of the platen relative to the reel.

In reproducing apparatus with which the reel and hose assembly of the invention may be used, a vacuum platen may be movable for carrying sheet material or the like through a processing cycle including impression of an image on the sheet material and treatment of the material, and in order to maintain the sheet material on the vacuum platen, the platen must be substantially continuously subjected to a vacuum condition. Inasmuch as the travel of the platen etfects a continuous variation in the distance from the source of vacuum, which may be the usual pump, the problem arises of maintaining the vacuum condition without using a continuously extended hose. Such a hose might become entangled during the reciprocal travel of the platen and be subject to breakdown and eifect disruption of the system.

The present invention resolves this problem by means of a vacuum hose and reel assembly wherein a reel is journalled on support means in association with the mechanism for processing sheet material or the like, and the hub of the reel is provided with stationary valve means for communicating with a stationary source of vacuum, and relatively rotatable valve means journalled in the stationary valve means. The rotatable valve means is connected to a hose fitting within the reel engaging the hose and the hose is wound on the reel and connected to the vacuum platen as by a fitting on the platen.

In order to prevent undesirable variation in the tension on the hose and to prevent the described condition of continuous elongation of the hose which would result in disruption of the mechanism, the reel is placed under spring tension so as to exert torque thereon and effect a winding up of the hose to the extent possible during the return phase of the reciprocating cycle of the platen, while affording a tensioned pay-out of the hose during movement of the platen away from the reel.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide efiicient means for imparting a vacuum condition to a movable vacuum platen or the like, so as to eliminate the need for individual handling of sensitized plates in a reproduction apparatus or the like, and provide continuous, automated operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tensioned reel for paying out vacuum hose to a vacuum platen or the like precisely to the extent demanded by the move ment of the platen.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve and reel assembly for transmitting a vacuum condition from a stationary vacuum source to a movable platen by means including a reel having valve means for intercommunicating the stationary source with the platen.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a device as described which is simple, reliable and adapted for use in a wide range of applications.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds in accordance with the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of reproduction apparatus with which the hose reel assembly of the invention may be used;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged top plan view of vacuum platen means for carrying sheet material or the like through an operational cycle in the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a schematic representation of the hose and reel assembly in operative relationship to the vacuum platen shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along the lines VV of FIGURE 5 and partly broken away, disclosing the inner structure of a reel according to the present invention;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along the lines IVIV of FIGURE 4 and showing a hose or conduit wound on the reel; and

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view of spring means for tensioning the reel shown in FIGURES 4 and 5 and taken along the lines VIVI of FIGURE 4.

Referring now to the drawings, the vacuum hose assembly of the invention may be used in reproducing appa ratus such as is illustrated in FIGURE 1 by reference numeral 10, and which in the embodiment shown, is a graphic arts camera processor having a copyboard 12 movable along a track 14. A camera structure 16 having a lens system transmits an image of the object on the copyboard to a focal plane in the exposure and treatment mechanism 18 which may be of any suitable type for exposing sensitized paper or other sheet material to the camera image, as understood by those skilled in the art.

The device is illustrated with respect to a graphic arts camera of the so-called reflex type provided with an optical track including a lens L for directing an image of the material on the copyboard 3,2 upwardly Within the exposure and treatment mechanism 18, whereby to effect a reaction in sensitized sheet materials carried by a movable platen assembly Ztl as seen in FIGURE 2.

In order to guide the movable platen assembly 20 through cyclical pickup of sheet material, exposure in the focal plane of the camera 16, treatment and removal of the material, as well as return, or other suitable cycling operations, parallel tracks 22 and 24 are mounted on opposite sides of the housing 26 for the mechanism 18, or otherwise suitably supported in horizontal, spaced apart relationship. Preferably, the tracks 22 and 24 are of a cross sectionally U-shaped configuration and are provided with upper and lower flanges integral therewith and in laterally spaced relation to the back walls of the tracks. The tracks integrate the vacuum platen assembly for coaction with the camera 16, since the tracks carry the vacuum back from the storage position, to the exposure position and thence to the developing station.

The vacuum platen assembly 29 includes a vacuum platen 28, a carriage 34F, elongated support bars 32 and 34 on the carriage and wheels 36, 38 and 4t)", 42 journaled on the respective bars 32 and 34. The wheels 36, 33,

4t) and 42 are preferablyrecessed to engage the opposed flanges on the respective tracks 22 and 24.

In the embodiment shown, the vacuum platen 2:8 is pivotally mounted on the carriage 30 by hinge means 44 and 46, intermediate the ends of the platen and in depending relationship. The vacuum platen is normallymaintained in a predetermined parallel relationship beneath the carriage 30 by latch means 48 including a cam 50 for camming engagement with a cam structure diagrammatically represented at 51 along the top of the assembly 20 whereby to release the platen 28 from its parallel relation to the carriage 36 and afford pivotal movement of the platen. The specific construction of the latch means 48 involves the provision of a channel plate 52 secured by brackets 54 or the like to the carriage 30, while a latch plate 56 is slidably received in the channel plate 52 and carries the cam 50 at its outer end. The latch plate 56 is urged laterally outwardly by spring means 53 interconnecting the plates 52 and 56, and the vacuum platen 28 extends rearwardly of the carriage 39 and has an upstanding shoulder post 60 mounted thereon which is releasably received in an aperture in the channel plate 52 and in a camming opening in the latch plate 56 (not shown) so that when the cam 51) is moved laterally inwardly relative to the carriage 38, the latch plate 56 will release the post 61) and the post may move downwardly through the channel plate 52, resulting a release of the platen 28 for pivotal movement relative to the carriage. Such pivotal movement may be utilized in rotating the platen to expose the undersurface, which carries sheet material or the like by a vacuum condition distributed along such surface. To effect the pivotal movement, a cam 62 carried on the platen 28 may engage a cam structure diagrammatically represented at 63. Further, manually operable release means 64 may be mounted on the platen 28 to effect a relative displacement of a portion of sheet material on the platen to permit ready grasping and stripping of the sheet material.

In order to apply a vacuum condition to the platen 28, the platen is suitably honeycombed with vacuum passages internally thereof (not shown) and in communication with a fitting 66 secured by screws or the like 68 to the platen 28. A flexible conduit '76 extends from the fitting 66 to a passage 72 in a shoulder 74 on the carriage 30. It will therefore be appreciated that vacuum may be transmitted through the passage 72 to the conduit 71 and to the platen 23, even during pivotal movement of the platen relative to the carriage, by virtue of the flexibility of the hose or conduit 711.

In accordance with the present invention, a vacuum condition is transmitted to the vacuum platen 28 through the passage 72 and the hose 7 0, by means of a flexible hose or conduit 76 connected to a fitting on the shoulder 74 in communication with the passage '72. Since the vacuum platen assembly 20 is movable along the tracks 22 and 24 as by suitable means (not shown) such as may be attached to the extension 78 on the carriage 38, or otherwise, the hose 76 might ordinarily become entangled with the parts of the mechanism 18 as the assembly 20 is reciprocated longitudinally of the housing 25. For example, the carriage 30 may ride along the tracks 22 and 24 from a rear position which may be used to pick up sheet material and the like and in the embodiment shown, corresponds to the right hand side of the housing 216, forwardly to an exposure position in register with the camera 16 and thereafter to a treatment position and to a takeoff recess 81) in the housing 26. Thereupon, the assembly 20 may be returned to the rear of the housing 26 and the reciprocating cycle continued as desired. Thus the hose 76 would tend to pass in a winding looping manner into contact with the abut ments and projections which might snarl the hose and cause the mechanism to jam, interfering with the movement of the assembly 20. In order to prevent such fouling and entanglement of the hose 76, while uninterruptedly imparting a vacuum to the platen, a hose and reel assembly 81 is provided within the housing 26, as, for example, within the forward portion of the housing and adjacent the housing wall 82 opposite the copyboard 12. Further to this end, a sheave or pulley 83 is journaled in the housing at an elevation substantially in register with the car riage 36 so that the hose 76, even in the extended position thereof shown in solid line in FIGURE 3, will not be stretched diagonally and tension stresses from the vacuum platen assembly 211 may be taken up initially at the sheave. In order to maintain a taut condition for the hose 76 while guiding the hose over the sheave 83 (which may be grooved for the purpose) the assembly 81 includes a reel or drum 84 which is journaled in a support 86 mounted in. the housing 26, and the reel is biased by spring means so as to continuously wind up slack from the hose 76 and tension the hose, as hereinafter further described.

Referring now to FIGURES 4 and 5, the reel 84 includes a hub 88 of generally cylindrical configuration but with an annular boss 90 formed centrally therearound. Secured to the boss 91) as by screws 92 and 94, are circular reel plates 96 and 98 which extend radially outwardly from the hub in opposed parallel relation to define a hose receiving space 100 therebetween. Interconnecting the plates 96 and 98, and also serving to reinforce the plates and to provide hose-winding guide means as hereinafter described, are bolt elements 102, 104, 106, 108 and 110 which may have sleeves 112 thereon forming spacers for the plates 96 and 98. In order to connect the hose 76 to the reel, as also hereinafter described, a fitting 114 is connected radially to the hub 88 and intercommunicates with a journal fitting 116 in the said hub.

So as to guide the hose 76 around the fitting 114 while providing an initial winding path for the hose which is displaced from the hub so that discontinuities and unevennesses in winding are avoided, the bolts 102 through 110 are arranged in a helical configuration which extends from adjacent the fitting 114 radially gradually outwardly so that the bolt 102, for example, is relatively radially proximate to the hub 88 and the bolt 110 is radially set out from the hub. Further, the spacing of the bolt 110 from the hub is such that the hose 76 may extend between the bolts 1112 and 110, the bolts being preferably uniformly angularly spaced to guide the hose helically around the hub and past the fitting 114. Since an initially smooth Winding connection is thus afforded, further winding, as well as unwinding, may be accomplished without difiiculty.

In order to impart a vacuum condition to the hose 76, a stationary vacuum fitting 118 is mounted in one of the uprights 1211 of the support means 86 to be connected to a conduit or the like leading from vacuum pump or other vacuum generating equipment (not shown). The fitting 118 also acts as a journal for one side of the hub 88 of the reel 84 and is essentially a nipple structure which may suitably engage another hose element or the like. The fitting 116 coacts with the nipple 118 by virtue of an internal trunnion and conduit element 121 thereof sealingly journalled in the nipple 118. The nipple 118 may be secured against relative rotation by means of a flattened'surface or the like thereonengageable by screw or retainer element 122 extending into the support While the fitting 116 may be secured in the hub 77 by a screw or retainer 123.

In order to provide intercommunication through these parts, the fitting 116 defines an internal conduit 124 communicating with the trunnion and conduit 121, and the fitting 114- has an internal passage 126 communicating with the passage 124. The fitting 114 may be threaded into the connection with the hub 116 through the boss 90, or otherwise retained in position as shown. The passage 126 is continuous with an acutely angled passage 128 in the fitting 114, which extends substantially tangentially in the direction of winding for the hose 76. The outer end of the passage 128 may be threaded to threadedly engage a nozzle 130 on the inner end of the hose 76. Also, a spring bracket or the like 132 is secured to the plate or wall 96, in the example shown, as by a screw 1%, to assure the desired alignment of the hose 76.

As the platen assembly 20 is reciprocated along the tracks 22 and 24, the hose 76 will be initially unwound from the reel 84 as the assembly travels toward the rear of the housing 26, in the example described; and a tendency to slack and entanglement of the hose would ordinarily be produced by the forward movement of the assembly 211 after the hose had been unwound as described. To eliminate this condition, and also to maintain a tautness in the hose throughout the reciprocating cycle of the assembly 21), a spring means 136 is provided which interconnects the hub 88 of reel 84 and, in the example shown, the upright 138 of the support means 86. The spring means 136 includes a helical spring 140 which exerts a restoring force on the reel 84 as the hose 76 is unwound and thereby exerts a continuous tension on the hose during unwinding, and which effects rewinding of the hose during the forward movement of the assembly 20 While maintaining a taut condition for the hose. Thus the spring is preferably wound in a direction opposite to the direction of winding of the hose, and the spring is preferably placed under tension as the hose is unwound, in the example described. It will, however, be understood that other forms of restoring means interconnecting the reel and support means may be utilized within the scope of the invention.

In order to mount the reel for torque-responsive rotation, the hub 88 is jcurnaled at its other end to the support 138 as by a journal shaft 142 secured by screw means or the like 144 in the hub, and a ball race 146 may be mounted in the upright 138 to receive a reduced section 148 of the shaft 142, with the outer end of the shaft preferably having a nut element 149 or the like to retain a bearing washer 150 or the like against the race; although varying constructions in this respect may also be utilized within the scope of the invention.

The spring means 136 produces a restoring torque relative to the hub 88 as thus journaled on the supports 120 and 138, and to secure the spring for this purpose, the outer end of the spring is attached to a post 154, as seen in FIGURE 6 while the inner end of the spring is attached to a post 156 secured axially in the hub 88, as seen in FIGURE 4, the ends of the spring being preferably turned around the respective posts with inner end passing between the post 156 and the hub 88.

Thus, the incremental tensioning of the spring 140 as the hose is unwound will serve to impart a continuous tensioning of the hose which will overcome slack as the length of hose from the sheave 83 is increased, without interfering with the movement of the platen assembly and which is also effective to rewind the hose while still maintaining tension during unwinding of the hose.

Accordingly, there has been provided a valve and reel combination for supply vacuum to a vacuum platen for photographic apparatus or the like, which permits a continuous cycling of the platen through operational stages and which eliminates the need for individual handling of plates or sheet material. The transmission of a vacuum condition from a stationary source such as a vacuum pump or the like, to a rotary reel member and thence to a'hose permits variation in the length of the supply conduit to correspond with the spacing of the platen assembly, while the tensioning of the reel and the hose provides a means of assuring that the variation in conduit or hose length corresponds to the said spacing of the platen assembly throughout its travel, and eliminates slack which could interfere with the operation of the platen and apparatus associated therewith.

The sheave or pulley mounting for the hose further maintains the hose in a desired position throughout and assures even distribution of forces between reel and platen assembly, while the tilting of the platen, which is a feature desirable in specific applications, in no way prevents continued vacuum supply because of the flexible conduit extension communicating vacuum between the platen and carriage of the assembly, and the extensible hose. Thus the invention has utility in a wide range of applications in addition to the structure described;

Although I have herein outlined my invention with reference to specific features and details thereof, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that these may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as set forth in the hereunto appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a system for transporting sheet articles and the like through an operational cycle, a carriage, horizontally disposed track means guiding said carriage through a predetermined path, multiple spaced apart stations on an ere tended vacuum platen for carrying the sheet material or the like, pivot means pivotally securing said vacuum platen to said carriage, latch means releasably securing said vacuum platen in predetermined angular relation to said carriage, cam means for releasing said latch means at a predetermined point of travel along said track means, cam means controllably tilting said vacuum platen upon release of said latch means, a first flexible conduit connected to said vacuum platen to communicate a vacuum condition thereto, said first flexible conduit being connected to said carriage, a passage in said carriage for transmitting a vacuum condition to said first flexible conduit, a second flexible conduit connected to said passage in said carriage, reel means mounted in predetermined relation to said track means including a stationary support and a rotatable drum journalled in said support, means on the Support affording connection to a source of vacuum, means on said drum communicating with said means affording connection to a source of vacuum and means on said drum connecting said second flexible conduit to said means communicating with said means affording connection to a source of vacuum whereby to afford winding and unwinding of the second flexible conduit on said drum during movement of said carriage along said track means while transmitting a vacuum condition to said vacuum platen.

2. In a system for transporting sheet articles and the like through an operational cycle, a carriage, horizontally disposed track means guiding said carriage through a predetermined path, multiple spaced apart stations on an extended vacuum platen for carrying the sheet material or the like, pivot means pivotally securing said vacuum platen to said carriage, latch means releasably securing said vacuum platen in predetermined angular relation to said carriage, cam means for releasing said latch means at a predetermined point of travel along said track means. cam means controllably tilting said vacuum platen upon release of said latch means, a first flexible conduit connected to said vacuum platen to communicate a vacuum condition thereto, said first flexible conduit being connected to said carriage, a passage in said carriage for transmitting a vacuum condition to said first flexible conduit, a second flexible conduit connected to said passage in said carriage, reel means mounted in predetermined relation to said track means including a stationary support and a rotatable drum journalled in said support, means on the support affording connection to a source of vacuum, means on said drum communicating with said means affording connection to a source of vacuum, means on said drum connecting said second flexible conduit to said means communicating with said means affording connection to a source of vacuum and means on said reel means exerting a restoring force on said reel means to maintain said second flexible conduit connected to said passage under continuous tension during unwinding and to effect rewinding of said second flexible conduit in accordance with the direction of said vacuum platen while transmitting a vacuum condition to said vacuum platen.

3. In a system for transporting sheet articles and the like through an operational cycle, a carriage, horizontally disposed track means guiding said carriage through a predetermined path, multiple spaced apart stations on an extended vacuum platen for carrying the sheet material or the like, pivot means pivotally securing said vacuum platen to said carriage, latch means releasably securing said vacuum platen in predetermined angular relation to said carriage, cam means for releasing said latch means at a predetermined point of travel along said track means, cam means controllably tilting said vacuum platen upon release of said latch means, a first flexible conduit connected to said vacuum platen to communicate a vacuum condition thereto, said first flexible conduit being connected to said carriage, a passage in said carriage for transmitting a vacuum condition to said first flexible con-.

duit, a second flexible conduit connected to said passage in said carriage, a reel means mounted in predetermined relation to said track means including a stationary support and a rotatable drum journalled in said support, means on the support affording connection to a source of vacuum, means on said drum communicating with said means affording connection to a source of vacuum, means on said drum connecting said second flexible conduit to said means communicating with said means affording connection to a source of vacuum, means on said reel means exerting a restoring force on said reel means to maintain said second flexible conduit connected to said passage under continuous tension during unwinding and to effect rewinding of said second flexible conduit in accordance with the direction of said vacuum platen while transmitting a vacuum condition to said vacuum platen and pulley means guiding said second flexible conduit connected to said passage during said unwinding and winding.

4. In a reproducing apparatus having a processing mechanism with a housing, a system for processing sheet material or the like through an operational cycle, comprising multiple spaced apart stations on an extended carriage, horizontally disposed track means guiding said carriage through a predetermined path, a vacuum platen for carrying the sheet material or the like, pivot means pivotally securing said vacuum platen to said carriage, latch means releasably securing said vacuum platen in predetermined angular relation to said carriage, cam means for releasing said latch means at a predetermined point of travel along said track means, cam means controllably tilting said vacuum palten upon release of said latch means, a first flexible conduit connected to said vacuum platen to communicate a vacuum condition thereto, said first flexible conduit being connected to said carriage, a passage in said carriage for transmitting a vacuum condition to said first flexible conduit, a second flexible conduit connected to said passage in said carriage, reel means mounted in said housing in predetermined relation to said track means including a stationary support and a rotatable drum journaled in said support, means on the support affording connection to a source of vacuum, means on said drum communicating with said means affording connection to a source of vacuum, means on said drum connecting said second flexible conduit to said means communicating with said means affording connection to a source of vacuum, means on said reel means exerting a restoring force on said reel means to maintain said second flexible conduit connected to said passage under continuous tension during unwinding and to effect rewinding of said second flexible conduit in accordance with the direction of said vacuum platen while transmitting a vacuum condition to said vacuum platen and pulley means journalled in said housing in predetermined spaced relation to said reel means and guiding said second flexible conduit connected to said passage during said unwinding and winding.

5. A camera processor for reproducing images directly on sheet form copy media which comprises, spaced tracks disposed horizontally and extending longitudinally, a vacuum back sheet form holder having a carriage supported for movement on said tracks, a flexible conduit connected to said holder, reel means, said tracks guiding said holder reciprocably toward and away from said reel means, said reel means including a pair of support members in spaced apart relation, a drum having a hub journalled in said support members, a pair of radially extending flanges on said hub disposed in parallel relation, a fitting on said hub having a portion extending in proximate overlying relation to said hub in one direction and said fitting defining a passage therethrough, said portion having said flexible conduit connected thereto in communication with a said passage, means for transmitting a vacuum through said hub to said passage, and a plurality of spacer elements extending between the flanges of said drum, said spacer elements being disposed in angularly spaced relationship along a helical path in said one direction and including a spacer element in immediately subjacent relation to said portion of said fitting, in front of said fitting, and a spacer element radially in register with said subjacent spacer element and spaced from said subjacent spacer element, said flexible conduit extending be tween said subjacent spacer element and said radially registered spacer element, and means for exerting a restoring force on said drum to tension the flexible conduit during movement of the means for carrying materials away from said reel means and to effect rewinding of the flexible conduit during movement of the means for carrying materials toward said reel means.

6. A camera-processor for reproducing images directly on sheet form copy media which comprises, spaced tracks disposed horizontally and extending longitudinally, a vacuum platen assembly including a vacuum platen, and a carriage movably supporting said platen on said tracks, a flexible conduit connected to said platen, and reel means, said reel means including a pair of upright support members, a drum having a hub journalled in said support members, one of said support members having a valve fitting fixedly secured therein adapted to connect with a source of vacuum, said hub having a conduit therein forming a trunnion rotatably and sealingly received in said valve fitting, a fitting on said hub having a passage communicating with said conduit in said hub, said flexible conduit being connected to said fitting in communication with said passage therein, ball bearing means in the other of said support members, a trunnion on said conduit in said hub in bearing relation to said ball bearing means, and spring means interconnecting said other of said support members and said drum and efliective to tension the flexible conduit during unwinding of the flexible conduit in response to movement of the means for carrying materials away from said drum, and effective to rewind saidiflexible conduit on said drum during movement of said means for carrying materials toward said drum.

7. A camera-processor for reproducing images directly on sheet form copy media which comprises, spaced tracks disposed horizontally and extending longitudinally, an exposure station including a camera lens system for focusing an image to be reproduced onto a focal plane coincident with the plane of said copy sheet, a vacuum platen assembly including a vacuum platen, and a carriage movably supporting said platen on said tracks, a reel assembly spaced longitudinally of said exposure station com prising a drum including a hub having circular reel plates forming conduit guide means, conduit means including a flexible conduit arranged to be taken up between said guide means and having one end of said conduit means connected to said hub for connection to a source of vacuum, and a pulley at the level of said platen over which said conduit means is trained, the opposite end of said conduit means extending longitudinally between said tracks and being operatively connected to said vacuum platen to uninterruptedly supply a vacuum bias to the platen at all positions thereof on said tracks.

8. A camera-processor as defined in claim 7, said vacuum platen assembly including hinge means between opposite sides of said carriage and said platen, latch means normally locking said platen in parallel relation to said track, said conduit means including a fitting on said carriage formed with an inlet connected to the other end of said flexible conduit and having an outlet, and a flexible tube interconnecting said outlet and a port on said platen to thereby accommodate pivotal movement of said platen while uninterruptedly supplying a vacuum bias to the platen.

9. A camera-processor for reproducing images directly on sheet form copy media which comprises, spaced tracks disposed horizontally and extending longitudinally, a vacuum back sheet form holder having a carriage supported for movement on said tracks, a camera having a lens system for focusing an image to be reproduced onto a focal plane coincident with the plane of said copy sheet at an exposure location spaced longitudinally along the length of said tracks, a flexible conduit connected to said vacuum back sheet form holder at one end thereof and extending between said tracks longitudinally thereof, a reel assembly spaced longitudinally of said exposure location subjacent the other end of said tracks and including a pulley disposed at a level in register with said carriage, said reel assembly including a drum having a hub, circular reel plates on said hub forming conduit winding guide means, and a fitting means in said hub connected to the other end of said flexible conduit for communicating a vacuum bias from a source at reduced pressure to said vacuum back sheet form member, thereby storing and paying out the conduit between the reel plates in response to movement of the holder and preventing entanglement of the conduit while uninterruptedly supplying a vacuum bias to the vacuum back sheet form holder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,839,230 Koppe Ian. 5, 1932 1,855,356 Koppe Apr. 26, 1932 1,984,217 Huebner Dec. 11, 1934 2,578,779 Black Dec. 18, 1951 2,641,790 Coult June 16, 1953 2,923,235 Voegelin Feb. 2, 1960 2,974,579 Echelson et al Mar. 14, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS German application, 1,066,683, printed Oct. 8, 1959. 

1. IN A SYSTEM FOR TRANSPORTING SHEET ARTICLES AND THE LIKE THROUGH AN OPERATIONAL CYCLE, A CARRIAGE, THROUGH A PREDETERMINED PATH, MULTIPLE SPACED APART STATIONS ON AN EXTENDED VACUUM PLATEN FOR CARRYING THE SHEET MATERIAL OR THE LIKE, PIVOT MEANS PIVOTALLY SECURING SAID VACUUM PLATEN TO SAID CARRIAGE, LATCH MEANS RELEASABLY SECURING SAID VACUUM PLATEN IN PREDETERMINED ANGULAR RELATION TO SAID CARRIAGE, CAM MEANS FOR RELEASING SAID LATCH MEANS AT A PREDETERMINED POINT OF TRAVEL ALONG SAID TRACK MEANS, CAM MEANS CONTROLLABLY TILTING SAID VACUUM PLATEN UPON RELEASE OF SAID LATCH MEANS, A FIRST FLEXIBLE CONDUIT CONNECTED TO SAID VACUUM PLATEN TO COMMUNICATE A VACUUM CONDITION THERETO, SAID FIRST FLEXIBLE CONDUIT BEING CONNECTED TO SAID CARRIAGE, A PASSAGE IN SAID CARRIAGE FOR TRANSMITTING A VACUUM CONDITION TO SAID FIRST FLEXIBLE CONDUIT, A SECOND FLEXIBLE CONDUIT CONNECTED TO SAID PASSAGE IN SAID CARRIAGE, REEL MEANS MOUNTED IN PREDETERMINED RELATION TO SAID TRACK MEANS INCLUDING A STATIONARY SUPPORT AND A ROTATABLE DRUM JOURNALLED IN SAID SUPPORT, MEANS ON THE SUPPORT AFFORDING CONNECTION TO A SOURCE OF VACUUM, MEANS ON SAID DRUM COMMUNICATING WITH SAID MEANS AFFORDING CONNECTION TO A SOURCE OF VACUUM AND MEANS ON SAID DRUM CONNECTING SAID SECOND FLEXIBLE CONDUIT TO SAID MEANS COMMUNICATING WITH SAID MEANS AFFORDING CONNECTION TO A SOURCE OF VACUUM WHEREBY TO AFFORD WINDING AND UNWINDING OF THE SECOND FLEXIBLE CONDUIT ON SAID DRUM DURING MOVEMENT OF SAID CARRIAGE ALONG SAID TRACK MEANS WHILE TRANSMITTING A VACUUM CONDITION TO SAID VACUUM PLATEN. 